OpEd | Congressmen take issue with health care editorial

We would like to take a moment to set the record straight on a recent editorial by the Louisville Courier-Journal that was critical of our efforts to repeal the job-destroying, cost-hiking Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as Obamacare.

Specifically, the editorial board states that, "It looks like Reps. Ed Whitfield, Brett Guthrie, Thomas Massie, Hal Rogers and Andy Barr would rather take that cash out the pockets of Kentuckians and let big insurance companies keep it."

We take exception to these shortsighted claims.

The Courier-Journal editorial board states that Obamacare will "do so much to help Kentucky," making reference to Obamacare's average annual refund of $100. Unfortunately, the editorial board fails to realize that this annual rebate will be little comfort to those who will now be paying $1,560 more annually for their health insurance, which was highlighted in a report issued by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. That's like being given four free tires, but only after being forced to buy a new car.

When Obamacare was first rushed through the House of Representatives in 2008, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said we needed to "pass the bill so that you can find out what's in it." Now, the only thing we are seeing is that it's an unworkable mess. This is why the president recently extended the deadline for businesses to get in compliance with the law's mandate to offer insurance. Unfortunately, he refuses to offer any relief to the Kentuckians who, according to the committee's report, will see their premiums increase by anywhere from 65 percent to 106 percent.

The editorial also makes mention of the young people in Kentucky who will now be eligible for insurance under Obamacare. Unfortunately, in this economy and with spiking premiums, it is unlikely they will be able to afford the health care costs they will be forced to pay.

Our warning siren, which has long been sounding, is now echoing loud enough for even some of President Obama's strongest allies to hear. A letter coming from three of the nation's largest unions (International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union and UNITE-HERE) shared compelling concerns about the underlying premises of the law and the devastating impact it will have on our nation's workers.

Labor leaders warned that the law encourages employers to shift their employees to part-time status, thus giving them less opportunity for work while losing their health care benefits. This move also pushes individuals toward the statewide exchanges, which a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report warned might not be ready to open on schedule this October.

This law was written out of the view of the American people with input only from the president, which is peculiar given his recent claims that he has "the most transparent Administration in history." Now the president and his allies, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, are banding together to oppose a bill that would provide individuals with the same relief they had given to businesses.

While we all agree that our health care system is in need of reform, a $1.8 trillion government takeover that leads to higher premiums, limited coverage options, and more administrative headaches for already struggling businesses is not the right answer. What we really need are common sense reforms that give patients access to the health care that they want, from a doctor that they choose, and at a price that they can afford.

Regardless of the shortsighted claims made in the Courier-Journal, as your representatives in Washington, we will continue fighting against a bloated government which has a total disregard for your pocketbooks - because Kentuckians know what's best for them and their families, not the government.

REP. HAL ROGERS

5th Congressional District -

REP. ED WHITFIELD

1st Congressional District -

REP. BRETT GUTHRIE

2nd Congressional District -

REP. ANDY BARR

6th Congressional District -

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OpEd | Congressmen take issue with health care editorial

We would like to take a moment to set the record straight on a recent editorial by the Louisville Courier-Journal that was critical of our efforts to repeal the job-destroying, cost-hiking Affordable